Handgun slide to frame adapter

ABSTRACT

An adapter for utilizing a handgun slide manufactured for use on a common generation and version of handgun frame to make its use capable on a newer generation or versions frame having different dimensional features. The adapter makes allows use of a slide assembly comprising of a slide, barrel, recoil spring and guide from previous generations on more recent generations of the same handgun. The adapter is mounted on the previous versions dust cover creating a new geometry to allow for proper function inside the newer generation&#39;s frame. The adapter includes a bushing. The earlier generation&#39;s slides have an outer surface shape smaller than the newer generation slide with the adapter creating the geometry necessary for compatibility.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. ProvisionalApplication 62/219,559, filed Sep. 16, 2015, which application isincorporated herein by reference as though fully contained herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to anauto loading handgun, more particularly semi-automatic handguns. Moreparticularly this invention specifically pertains to a device in theform of an adapter having a bushing that allows for the use of the slideof a first handgun, having a spring guide rod assembly, with the frameor body of a second handgun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automatic/semiautomatic pistol carries a slide/barrel assembly thatslides longitudinally along a frame. A spring braced between the slideand frame holds the slide/barrel assembly in a forward and closedposition. A cartridge chamber exists within this slide/barrel assembly.In the forward position, the rear end of the barrel is covered by thebreech face upon the slide. A hole in the breech face provides access tothe cartridge chamber for a firing element to pierce the primer of thepistol cartridge, thereby discharging the cartridge and expelling thebullet. The firing element can be driven forward by a hammer strikingit, or it can be moved backward under spring pressure and released todrive the firing element forward through the breech face to the primer.In either instance the hammer or the firing element itself is connectedthrough mechanical means to a trigger operated by the user.

Upon discharge of a pistol cartridge, a bullet travels forward outthrough the barrel, the slide/barrel assembly moves rearward for aspecific distance where the barrel moves slightly downward and stops,the slide continues to move rearward opening the cartridge chamber. Theextractor (through spring pressure) holds the spent cartridge casing tothe breech face, removing it from the barrel. As the slide continuesrearward, the ejector (mounted in the frame) contacts the spentcartridge casing, pushing it away from the breech face, causing theextractor spring pressure to be overcome to expel the empty cartridgefrom the pistol. Therein the recoil spring's tension aside fromassisting (or not, if the spring is to heavy for the cartridge beingused) in the removal of the spent casing effects the recoil/barrel jumpand thus accuracy as well as the speed by which the next cartridge maybe cycled for firing in the case of competitive target and/or militaryshooting.

Now at maximum rearward travel, the slide has cleared the magazineassembly, allowing the next cartridge in the magazine to move up(magazine cartridges are loaded under spring pressure). Spring(s)pressure pushes the slide forward contacting the next cartridge from themagazine and delivering it to the cartridge chamber which closes as theslide moves forward. Slide fully forward, the pistol is loaded ready tofire again.

This generally describes the operation of an automatic pistol with alocked breech mechanism, fired either by striker or hammer operation. Astraight blowback mechanism operates similarly. However, the barrel isnot part of a slide/barrel assembly. The slide containing the breechface is held forward closing the cartridge chamber only by spring forceand with no particular mechanical interlock.

Moreover, because of inherent size limitations, small-sized handgunscurrently available have very limited fire power and very poor accuracyand tend to be relatively heavy and difficult to hold. Such handguns aretypically 0.22, 0.25 or 0.32 caliber and have barrels which are no morethan about two inches long. Accuracy is limited not only by theshortness of the barrel, but also by a tendency of the muzzle to rise(recoil) when the gun is fired.

Two important characteristics of semiautomatic handguns are minimumrecoil and minimum cycle-time (i.e. the time between successive firingsof the handgun). Other important factors are the gun weight and firepower. When a gun is fired the explosion of the gunpowder in theammunition casing or shell creates a forward force on the bullet thatpropels the bullet out of the gun barrel. Basic physics requires that anequal and opposite force be exerted rearward by the bullet on the gun.This force is referred to as recoil. The portion of the recoil sensed bythe gun user is “felt” recoil. The felt recoil is less than the totalrecoil because semiautomatics contain a spring, or springs, which absorbsome of the energy released when fired.

Furthermore, as is well known, recoil of any handgun increases as thehandgun, or that part of it which recoils, is decreased in weight or thepower of the ammunition that is fired is increased. The physical reasonis that a given cartridge will develop a characteristic amount of recoilmomentum, for a particular length of barrel, regardless of the type ofthe handgun in which it is fired. This recoil momentum results in anincrease in the energy of recoil which is proportional to the square ofthe recoil momentum and varies inversely with the mass of the recoilingpart. In other words, doubling the recoil momentum by increasing thepower of the cartridge will quadruple the recoil energy of the handgun.Reducing the recoiling mass, on the other hand, by fifty percent willdouble the recoil energy. Therefore, since reducing the weight of ahandgun and increasing the power of the ammunition substantiallyincreases the handgun's recoil, recoil is a critical problem instability of light-weight handguns when firing powerful ammunition.Conversely decreasing the load of the ammunition with the OME springjeopardizes the ability of the handgun to cycle the next round.

Moreover, because the gun barrel wherein the recoil force is applied isusually slightly above the wrist of the user, a moment is created aboutthe wrist that tends to rotate the gun barrel upward after firing. In asemiautomatic handgun the result is that the handgun must be re-aimedbefore it can be fired again. It can be appreciated, therefore, thatminimal felt recoil is a desirable attribute for handguns since it willreduce the time required to re-aim the handgun.

Similarly, the dual spring systems generally utilize a guide rod ofgreater diameter making interchanging with single spring rod assembliesimpossible, as the same is also a fixed element of the manufacturer.Thus the present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages inherentin the manufacture, assembly/disassembly, use and maintenance ofconventional handguns.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of firearms and moreparticularly the guide rod assembly of a semi-automatic handgun. Guiderods in hand guns effectively serve the purpose of controlling thebarrel jump by controlling the recoil spring as the slide reciprocateswhen the cartridge in the gun is discharged allowing for the shooter tobetter control the handgun's movement at time of discharge and thus thehand gun's accuracy.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed, but not limited to, thelong-felt need of handgun owners who are dissatisfaction with theoriginal manufacture's equipment (“OME”) guide rods—notably those withtwo (2) springs (e.g., the Generation 4 Glock handguns). Glock handgunshave been the standard issue weapons of the U.S. military and policedepartments for decades. The previous 3 generations of Glock pistolsutilized a guide rod composed of a single rod of plastic, with a singlerecoil spring of a spring-resistance weight of 17 pounds affixed to therod. The “Generation 4” Glock handguns, instead, use a dual spring unit.However, the present design in the Glock Generation 4 is flawed andproblematic in its application to custom or low power cartridges in thatits guide rod assembly includes a rod with two (2) springs, thearrangement of which precludes: 1) use of past Generation 3 single guiderod assemblies, and 2) modification of the OME springs according to theusers desired customization, be it for recoil control or the custom loadin the cartridge. Thus, the dual spring system is problematic in it doesnot allow for the ejection of lower power or custom loaded cartridges aswell as an inability to customize (e.g. alter the springs' tensions)recoil from the handgun when fired.

Thus, what is disclosed herein overcomes a safety and functionalityneeds resulting in dramatic improvement to semi-automatic handguns,their functionality, control and accuracy with dual spring recoil guiderods.

An object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of theabove-described firearms by providing a modified recoil guide rodassembly and the components, some of which can be used independently, toimprove the performance of Glock and like semi-automatic pistols withdual spring guide rod assemblies.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide enhancedhandgun customization.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Accordingly, the present invention does indeed accomplish theaforementioned objects. Obviously many modifications and variations ofthe present invention are possible in the light of the teachings herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made tothe following detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A through 1C are exploded views of a handgun and the inventiveslide to frame adapter;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of a bushing for use with theinventive slide to frame adapter that covers, blocks or otherwiseoccludes the gap between the handgun frame and the slide;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handgun assembly without the bushingof FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a handgun assembly without thebushing of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the inventive slide to frameadapter;

FIG. 6 is a front end perspective view of a handgun with the inventiveslide to frame adapter; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view along line E of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a parthereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specificembodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the invention

FIGS. 1A-1B show a first embodiment of the invention. The invention 10of this embodiment includes slide 20 having guide rod cover 22, barrel25, bushing 30, guide rod 40 around which spring 50 is configured andframe 60. Slide 20 (including guide rod cover 22), barrel 25, guide rod40 and spring 50 are collectively referenced as slide assembly 100.

In one illustrative embodiment, slide assembly 100 (again includingslide 20, barrel 25, guide rod 40 and spring 50) includes componentsdesigned for a Glock Generation 3 or earlier generation (hereinafterG3). In this illustrative embodiment frame 60 is a component of a GlockGeneration 4 (hereinafter G4). FIGS. 2A and 2B show the opposing sidesof bushing 30.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a G3 slide assembly 100 on G4 frame 60.This modification, without the use of busing 30, results in gap Abetween slide 20 (including guide rod cover 22) and frame 60. This gapprovides numerous disadvantages, including, inter alia, allowing debristo enter the handgun.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show G3 slide assembly 100 in combination with bushing30 on G4 frame 60. As it can be seen, bushing 30 occludes gap A therebyproviding a seal from debris. In this embodiment, an opening on the faceof bushing 30 receives guide rod cover 22.

FIG. 1C along with 5A and 5B is are illustrations of slide 20 havingguide rod cover 22, barrel 25, bushing 30, guide rod 40 around whichspring 50 is configured—commonly referenced as adapter assembly 200. Inthis embodiment, bushing 30 is integrally formed with slide 20.Alternatively, bushing 30 can be attached to, or integrally formed with,guide rod 40.

FIG. 6 is a front end perspective view of a handgun with the inventiveslide to frame adapter. Referring to FIG. 7, wherein the inventionincludes a bushing that allows the use of a guide rod having a shaftdiameter that differs from the slide guide rod hole diameter. Hole, ordepression, 70 has a shape larger than the shaft of the guide rod. Thisallows a guide rod to fit within the bushing.

Outer surface 72 has a shape and size smaller than the diameter of theslide spring seat. This allows the bushing to fit with the slide springseat. Surface 74 allows contact between the bushing and the recoilspring.

It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those madeapparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained andsince certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatters contained in the foregoing description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall there between.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter for use with a handgun, comprising: a.a slide having guide rod cover; b. a barrel; c. a bushing; and d. aguide rod around which a spring is configured.